Bucks Co. Woman Who Died On Spring Break Had 'Biggest Heart'

RICHBORO, PA — As police in Florida unveiled the sad details of her death, friends of Christine Englehardt on Wednesday were choosing to remember the 24-year-old restaurant manager from Bucks County for her laugh, smile and loving spirit.

"Anyone who knows this beautiful girl knows that she had the biggest heart there was and her laugh was nothing short of memorable," said Samantha DiFrancesco, a close friend of Englehardt. "She would do anything for a person in need and was always fun to be around, no matter what."

Englehardt, a Council Rock North graduate from Richboro, was vacationing in Miami Beach when she was found unconscious in her room at the Albion Hotel. She later died and police arrested two men from North Carolina.

Miami Beach Police say the men were caught on video escorting a woman who was having trouble walking to her room, then leaving less than 40 minutes later. They believe the men drugged her, sexually assaulted her, then stole her credit cards and cellphone.

DiFrancesco told Patch she met Christine about six years ago when they were working together at a Wawa.

"We got along instantly," said DiFrancesco, of Bensalem. "She was just an energy that took over a room."

Englehardt worked as a manager at Jules Thin Crust, a pizza restaurant in Newtown, for more than two years and was taking classes at Bucks County Community College in hopes of becoming a nurse. She was an avid runner and loved dancing, friends say.

Jan Jalenak, who co-owns Jules with husband John Ordway, said her family is "shocked and devastated by what has happened to Christine."

"Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of Christine Englehardt," they said in a planned social media post she shared with Patch. "She was a shining light in our company and will be missed immensely. Her smile, her laugh and her wonderful energy will always be cherished and remembered."

DiFrancesco said Englehardt was especially close with her mother, Doreen, and was the kind of friend that others turned to in times of need.

"She was the friend you leaned on for help and the friend you could talk to for hours about anything on your mind and know you would never be judged," she said Wednesday. "There wasn’t a mean bone in her body."

Hailey Davis, another close friend of Englehardt's, told WSVN in Miami that her friend was a good person who "didn’t deserve anything like that to happen to her."

In a Facebook post, Davis said goodbye to Christine in a way she wasn't able to in person.

"You've helped me through so much," she wrote. "I'm gonna miss you so, so much, beautiful. You were always so happy. Your smile could lift up the saddest person. You meant the world to me."

DiFrancesco has started a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to help Englehardt's family with funeral expenses and travel to Florida for court dates. Late Wednesday morning, it had raised about $30,000.